PICO RIVERA — Coroner’s officials Saturday released the name of a 19-year-old Pico Rivera man found buried in a backyard earlier this week, and determined he was shot to death.
Joseph Rubalcaba was found buried in a shallow grave behind a home in the 8500 block of Pico Vista Road about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Lt. Larry Dietz said.
Following an autopsy Saturday, coroner’s investigators concluded that Rubalcaba died from a gunshot wound to the head, officials said.
Even before investigators excavated the remains from the ground or officially identified the victim, family members gathered near the scene said they believed they knew his identity. They could not be reached for comment Saturday.
According to the sheriff’s department, a loved one and acquaintances of a man went to the home on Pico Vista Road, where they knew the man to frequent, after he had gone missing for several days.
They went to the backyard of the home, where they discovered human remains buried in a shallow grave and called authorities, officials said.
Coroner’s officials removed the body from the ground Thursday afternoon. It was initially estimated that the body had been buried within the previous week.
Handling detectives could not be reached for comment.
No suspects in the slaying have been arrested or identified, sheriff’s officials said, and no possible motive was available.